NTSB Updates Monorail Investigation Progress

In a letter sent to the local press today the NTSB has updated the status of the investigation into the Monorail accident of July 5th at Walt Disney World. In addition to interviews with the employees involved, they’ve begun to review documents provided by Walt Disneyworld.

Interestingly the letter claims they’ve received ‘most’ of what they requested. This includes: “employee records showing training, work history and work hours; monorail standard operating procedures; and mechanical maintenance and inspection history of the trains and switch mechanism.” The investigators are being thorough, that’s good to see. Let’s hope they’re also looking at comparisons to historical practices versus what was in place at the parks at the time.

Look for the report to be finished in about 6 months.

The full text of the letter is below the cut:

Here is an update and summary of the factual information that the NTSB has developed so far in its investigation of the monorail accident at Disney World on July 5, 2009:

All of the post-accident testing of the train and switch equipment was completed and the on-scene portion of the investigation was concluded on Thursday, July 9th.

Interviews were completed with the employees connected with the movement of the monorail train (the switch control operator, the pilot of the striking monorail train, and the monorail coordinator that was on duty on the night of the accident).

The parties to the investigation — Walt Disney World, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Transportation Communications International Union – are working to provide all requested information to the NTSB.

Most of the documents requested of Walt Disney World have been received by the NTSB. Among the documents that will become part of the investigation are employee records showing training, work history and work hours; monorail standard operating procedures; and mechanical maintenance and inspection history of the trains and switch mechanism.

The next anticipated release of information on this accident will be when the accident docket is opened to the public, which will likely occur within about six months.